Translator: Transn Editor: Transn
The seige of Fort Jin Pengwas dispelled very quickly, it was said that the King Dari had contributed a lot to it.
Fang Wenshi watched the soldiers ofthe North Courtretreat one after the other, returning to the camp, said tothe Dragon King, “there are only two options.Either we hand over Shangguan Fei or we go plead with King Kuari to get his protection. I suggest the former.”
“We can’t hand over Shangguan Fei, he is very important now.” The King replied.
The Dragon King’s answerconfused Fang Wenshi. The Supreme King’s ninth son was not only fickle but alsowastimid and cowardly and could not distinguish what was important from what was not. He could defeatan opponent in a single blow, which was formidable, but would tremble thereafter. Fang Wenshi was a only a scholar besides being a killer and did not have to be afraid.
“More important than the siege soldiers outside?” He asked.
“Yes,” Gu Shenwei was very sure. After observing for so long whether the three in one kungfu experiment was successful, Shangguan Fei did not seem to be able to survive the day.
Training was hard to explain to the military advisor because according to Fang Wenshi, theDragon King owned thousands of soldiers and could be called thelegend of swords. Spending moretime training withswords wouldbe a waste of time.
“How? We have completely offended King Kuari.” He wondered.
“So be it. As long as we are able to see Lao Hanwang, King Kuari is not so important.” The King affirmed.
The Dragon King’s thinking was often different from others, evident here whenalmost everyone believed that King Kuari would win the battlebut hestill thought he was “unimportant”.
Fang Wenshi realised that he was unable to keep up with the Dragon King’s thoughts and asked, “So we’ll just wait?”
” Goout to the West immediately, to find Shangguan Ru.” The king replied.
“What can she say? Don’t tell me-” Fang Wenshi said, not able tounderstand the Dragon King’s thoughts and added,” Has the Dragon kingdecided to support the second wife of the Shi family?”
“Why not? I heard that she was well-loved and could surpass complex obstacles and even arranged a meeting between me and Lao Hanwang. She is a woman, and does not have to take part in the battle. There is no need to force a reconciliation between the Dragon Army and Fort Jin Peng.”
Fang Wenshi opened his mouth and thought for a while, “I can’t say whether the Dragon King’s idea is right or not. But it is a wonderful move that couldsucceed or fail yet very risky if it fails. But for Shangguan Fei alone, Dragon King, please think carefully whether it is worth it.”
“Let’s go.” Gu Shenweimade a decision.
Fang Wenshi bowed and quit and thought as he walked whether he should change his principles to follow the princess who was too young, butwould have to acquire some devilish techniques.
Fang Wenshi thought hard and spent a lot of time but this saved him a lot of money.
Leaving the camp would require bribing the smiling tiger-like officials but the soldiers outside, in the end, retreated on their own before he had set a number of bribes.
The officials and Fang Wenshi were equally surprised sayingit were onlyorders, but when he finally reacted and wanted to take advantage of this time to retreat and reap benefits, it was already too late to fool the military counselor of the Dragon King.
“You treat silver as food? How many times do you want to eat in a day? Quick, go, tell me about the truth and let me know immediately,” saidFang Wenshi whofully experienced the pleasure of having money. He could order officials of the Northern Court here and there althoughprivately, the other party had to accept it with a smile.
It was all for money. Fang Wenshi sighed in his heart and felt that whatever he had done would not be enough.
The news had spread very quickly and this shocked Fang Wenshi.
The order to withdraw had beenissued by Lao Hanwanghimself. The official had received a sum of money in the morning and was extremely diligent when he did his work, hence he heard a little more information. He said,”I heard that the second wife of the Shi family had pleaded for mercy before Lao Hanwang.”
Fang Wenshi was suddenly impressed by Dragon King.
Gu Shenwei did not think that the second wife of the Shi family would be so proactive when, before he expressed need, the other party had already provided help.
Before old man Mu came to the Dragon army’s encampment hidden in a group of female soldiers, the mystery would not be revealed.
The second wife of Shi wouldn’t be compassionate for no reason. The moment Shangguan Ru heard that the Dragon Army camp had been surrounded, shesoughtShi’ssecond wife immediately, the two talked secretly andShi’s secondwifeagreed to intercede for the Dragon King.
It was somewhat a difficult matter, that would only get simpler after the camp of Fort Jin Peng had been encircled. Shi’s second wifereminded Lao Hanwangthat the North Court wasnot to treat their guests differently. There was no need to send troops for house arrest.
“Dragon King, there are some things a good girl does notsay but thinks in her heart. I will make it clear for her. She helped you once, you should do yourbest for her.” She said.
Old man Mu did not say but Gu Shenwei understood Shangguan Ru. She remembered the niece whohadhad a hard life. This was a tacit thing but after the Old Man Mu had pointed out, it seemed like a straight deal.
“What help? Why don’t I know?” said Fang Wenshi, alert. He was a military strategist and understood all the Dragon King’s operations, but had never heard of the king and Shangguan Ru helping each other.
Old man Mu did not have a good impression of the white fat man. He pursed his lips wantingto show he knew more secrets. Looking at Dragon King’s hinting eyes, he said, “Why do you ask so much? This is a good girl’s affairs. How can I tell such a lecherous man? Yes, a good girl toohas something that is inconvenient to say- every female soldier of the female army is a good girl and keep their bodies like jade and you are not to violate them.”
“You, you talk nonsense and slander others.” Fang Wenshireplied flushed, not seeming tohave lost his fighting spirit.
“Is that it?” Old man Mureplied. Hewas someone who remembered wrongs and used other strategies to seek vengeance even though swearing not to kill. He continued,”There are a few women fromthe North Courtwith pregnant bellies who said they kept harboring descendants of the Dragon King. Were they spreading rumours and slandering?”
Fang Wenshi even more flushed answered, “You, you, you…”
Small matter.” interrupted Gu Shenwei, not wanting tohaggleover suchsmall matters. “Go be busy, military counselor.” He continued.
Fang Wenshi had not wanted to let Dragon King and old man Mu talk in private but wished to leave. After walking several times, he turned around and said sternly, correcting, “just one, and not several”.
“Then continue working hard. The expansion of the Dragon Army depends on you.” saidold man Mu, his logic unparalleled. This time, he was prepared and every word hit its target.
Fang Wenshi was brimming with hatred but did not dare speak and started to escape.
Old man Mu was over the moon until he realised that the Dragon King had been staring at him, then he said humbly, “Dragon King, do you have anything else? I shall go if there is nothing else.”
“You seem to like digging out other people’s secrets.” The Dragon king said.
Old man Mu was shocked. He did not expectthis reaction of the Dragon King, heaping suspicion on himinstead of venting his anger on the lecherous military counselor like the rest. Hereplied quickly,”No no, it was just a coincidence. White Fat Man was not conscientious. He did not wipe up after himself. Many people in the North Courtknow this.”
Gu Shenwei thought about whetherto use old man Mu togather intelligence, Long Fanyun and Shangguan Fei were clearlynot qualified. But this idea was aborted the moment it was birthed, old man Muwas ofgreater use. It was not good to put him atrisk.
“Follow me.” He commanded them without any emotion as usual.
“For what? I am busy. There is not many people that a good girl can use, it’s just me…,” Old man Mu reacted.
Gu Shenwei did not care about Old man Mu’s ranting and walked out of the tent, old man Mu only followed at the back. The Dragon King was not easily duped like Shangguan Ru, he would rather leave as far as he could.
The two people walked, front and back, into a neighboring tent.
Old man Mu saw theLotus womanand held his breath immediately, his vigilance increased and then realised someone lying on the bed.
“Isn’t that Shangguan Fei? Why is he like that now?” he asked.
It was indeed Shangguan Fei. He looked very strange, his face reddened like charcoal and perspiration formed on his forehead. His body shook violently and he gritted his teeth as if lying on ice.
“He went wayward in his Qigong Deviation.” She said.Gu Shenwei had realised Shangguan Fei’s abberation for half an hour already as the Lotus maidkept on observing silently at the side.
The two had not gained the teaching of the good master. They had dependedand encouragedeach other whilepractising “Death Scripture” and the Wayless Qigong. The three-in-one qigong was something that no one had tried before and there were too many loopholes they couldn’t solve.
On the way to the royal court along with the Lotus maid, Gu Shenweisought help rather circuitously from Old Man Mu andthey did not reveal information about howhe looked like. After guessing for a bit andseeing Shangguan Fei, they immediately understood the most part.
“That he can surviveuntil now is a miracle,” he said.
Gu Shenwei had no means of concealing anddid not care about Shangguan Fei’s life, but the person who was to be tested was about to die. This meant that the three-in-one qigong had failed thoroughly andalso hadno means of extract the poison in his body.
The needle piercing pain had only come once every three months, and Gu Shenwei’sendurance had only grown. He was not incapacitated but knew that this did not mean that the Qigong Deviation was decreasing yetthe poison seeped into his body and he did not have more time to defend himself against this.
Shangguan Fei had to live.
Gu Shenwei introduced his plans to reconcile the Wayless Qigong, Yin and Yang Strength and the Sumeru Mustard Wayless Qigong divine kung fu.
Although old man Mu had prepared long ago, he gaped in astonishment for almost half a day upon listening and said, “Good strategy! Dragon King, I absolutely…admire you. In comparison to you, my ways of tormenting people in the past were like a joke. Haha, indeedit will befeared when you are gone. I do not deservebeing labelled the Ferocious Old Devil.”
It would be sarcasm if it were someone else, however old man Mu was sincere. Looking at Shangguan Fei in agony felt like appreciating a sophisticated work of art.
“I want you to revive him?” The king asked.
“Why?” Old Man Mu askedraising his head and looking up at the Dragon King, feeling as if he had turned over a new leaf. He took a deep breath and exhaled saying, “Yes, I promised the good lady to be a good person. Not killing is a first step and Saving people the second. Moreover, he is the good lady’s brother… yes, let me try.”
Old Man Mu’s experiment only lasted for a second. After keen observation and pulse gas transmission, he rose and nodded his head saying, “The Dragon King had inadvertently opened a new frontier of martial arts. Even if Shangguan Fei were dead, it’llbe worth it.”
Shangguan Fei heard his name vaguely linked with “dead” thushis mind suddenly cleared for a momentas he stretched out his arms towards Gu Shenwei, saying, “Dragon King, save me.”
Old man Mu pressed down Shangguan Fei’s arm replying,”Rest assured, you are saved,” and then turned towardsthe Dragon King and continued, “The person who can save him is not me, it is myyounger brother, Taoist Yu. Let us go find him.”
